The footage showed her take the post out just minutes after it was delivered to a box by Michael Umphray’s outside gate by the postman.

Mr Umphray contacted police after the theft but did not press charges because his family still has to live next door to Mrs Harbottle.

After nicking the letters, Mrs Harbottle had simply dumped them in a recycle bin.

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The scandal prompted calls for her to resign her post as a local councillor with Kings Clipstone Village Council, but she clung on until now – even though part of her responsibility was to work with the safer community group to cut crime.